“I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions, and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you” (Luke 10:18, 19).

As I was reading this verse this morning, I suddenly remembered several stories people here have told me over the years. Before, I didn’t really understand why Jesus used the example of scorpions and snakes. But suddenly it became clear.

Here in Benin, people sometime use black magic to ask spirits to harm or kill someone. In these cases, or when the spirits are upset for some reason, they may come into people’s houses in the form of a snake or a big scorpion.

Marie told me a story about when she was young and her family was laughing at her and making fun of her because she’d become a Christian. But, she kept praying each night and didn’t get discouraged. One morning, she woke up to find a large scorpion next to her sleeping mat. As it sensed that she was awake, it brought up its tail. She said it clearly wanted to sting her, but it was as if a power held it back. She believes Satan sent the scorpion to hurt her, but God protected her from any harm by it.

Others have told me about scorpions that have come into their houses to harm them. It is very hard to kill these creatures. Some have also told me about serpents that came into their houses to bite them but were stopped by God’s intervention.

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